be ale



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

- A M. A. BEALE.

TELEGRAPHY.

Patented Apr. 12, 1887 A TTO/iWEY N PUERs. Phnm-Luhographm. Washington D. c.

(No Model.) 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. M. A. BEALE.

. TELEGRAPHY.

No. 360,986. Patented Apr. 12, 1887.

WITNESSES: IIVVEIVTOR (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. M. A. BEALE.

TBLEGRAPHY. No. 360,986. Patented Apr. 12, 1887.

c [3 IN emf/p lTA/ESSES:

ATTORNEY N H1015, Pholo-Lxmcgnpher, Washington 0.0.

(No M181. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. M. A. BEALB.

TBLEGRAPHY.

Patented Apr. 12, 1887.

QMKEB WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES ALFRED l\[. A. BEALE,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

TELEGRAPHY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,986, dated April 12, 1887.

Application m n hllllCll 27, 1886.

To aZZ 1071,0722, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED MEYER A LBERT BEALE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telegraphy, of which the 'following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof.

My invention relates to a new multiple-telegraph system, and also to the combination thereof with an electrical synchronous mechanism.

My invention consists of means, substantially as hereinafter described, of transmitting over a conductor electrically connecting distant stations a series of alternately-reversed currents, one of said currents in said series controlling synchronizing mechanism and the remaining currents being employed for signaling purposes. Y

My invention further consists in the construction and arrangement of the telegraphic apparatus, more particularly hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is v a diagram showing the general disposition of my synchronizing mechanism. Fig. 2 is also a diagram showing the said mechanism as arranged at one end of a line-conductor, and also in connection therewith my improved telegraphic apparatus. Fig. 3 is a side view of the disk A of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a diagram of a rotary disk with four contact-plates and eleven fixed fingers. Fig. 5 is a diagram ofa rotary disk with eight contact-plates and five fingers. Fig. 6 isadiagram showing the same with a greater number of eontact-plates on the rotary disk, and also the general disposition of the actuating weight and gearing, the several devices being shown in side elevation. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the same thing as Fig. 6, but in plan. Fig. 8 shows each finger, as e e e, &c., connected in branch circuit, with a key in each branch.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

In another application for Letters Patent filed simultaneously herewith I have fully described and claimed the synchronizing meclr anism here shown combined with my telegraphic signaling apparatus. The said synch- Serinl No. 196,750. (No model.)

ronizing mechanism, as claimed in my said other application, I herein disclaim.

The general principle of my synchronic system will be best understood from Fig. 1,which is a skeleton diagram of the circuits and apparatus, not in anywise preserving relative proportions, butsimply illustrative. At each end of the line are the wheels A and A. These wheels are rotated by the action of descending weights. The problem is to make the wheel A rotate in exactly the same period of time as the wheel Atliat is, synchronousl'y. I propose to use descending weights as the source of motive power, because, other things being equal, they will fall by attraction of gravitation in equal times, in accordance with known laws. I do not actuate my mechanism by clectro-motors, nor by any action of electricity, because, no matter how generated, the electric current is never uniform in strength, and therefore is itself a disturbing element in any apparatus depending upon it for uniform mechanical motion.

The synchronizing mechanism is the same at each end of the line. The disk A is supposed to be rotated by the descending weight \V through any suitable mechanism. From the disk A is actuated the disk B, and for pres ent purposes of explanation it is assumed that the disk B is so connected to disk A by positive gearing as that both disks necessarily r0- tate in the same period of time. On the disk A is a contact-plate, O, and on the disk B a contactplate, D. Bearing against the periphery of disk A is a contact-finger, E, and bearing against the periphery of disk B is a contact-finger, F. Inasmuch as thedisks A and B have the same period of revolution, it fol lows that when the finger E meets the plate 0 on disk A the finger F will meet the plate D on disk B.

On the shaft ofdisk B is an escapemcnt-pinion, G. Adapted to engage with this, by the action of a coiled spring, J, is a catch, H, which forms the armature of an electro-magnet, I. The current from the battery proceeds to the shaft of-disk Aby brushes or other convenient means, (not shown in Fig. 1,) and thence is conducted radially on said disk to the contact-plate G. XVhen the finger E meets this plate the current proceeds to said finger,

and thence to the electro-magnet I. From the magnet the current goes to the shaft of disk B, thence radially on said disk to contact-plate D to finger F, and thence to the line. At the other end of the line the current traverses the similar apparatus in the reverse way-thatis, it first goes to finger F, to contact-plate D, disk B, magnet 1, finger E, disk A, and so to ground. Now it will be evident that here are four contact-points-two at each end of the lineall of which must be closed before the current can ilowthat is, the finger E must be on plate 0, the finger F on plate D at one end of the line, and the finger E on the plate 0 and the finger F'on the plate D at the other end of the line; but in order that this may happen, the contact-plates on all four disks, A A B 13 must come opposite their respective contact'fingers at the same moment; or, in other words, each disk must complete its revolution between the intervals of contact of fingers and plates in precisely the same period of time.

I have already stated that the disks A and B at one end of the line will rotate exactly together, and necessarily so, because of positive gearing between them. A and B, similarly arranged at the other end of the line. Suppose, now, that while the fingers E and F are off the plates Oand D a current goes to line by other means not shown in Fig. 1, but which will be described farther on, and as the shoulder of the escapement-wheel G is then clear of the catch H, the disk B and the disk A geared to it will be free to turn. Suppose, further, that when the contact-plates G and D come under the fingers E F this other means goes out of operation, so that the i only current that can go on the line at that time must go through the fingers E F and contact-plates O D, and thence, as already described, through the magnet I, and so to fingers F and plates D O to ground. Finally, assume that when the contact-plates O and D come under the fingers E F the contact-plates at the other end of the line have not got to their corresponding fingers, because the disks A B have from some cause been retarded, and hence are not moving synchronously with the disks A and B. Clearly, then, there can be no current to the line, the magnet I will be tie-energized, and the catch H will drop into the notch or against the shoulder of the escapement-wheel G and stop the revolutions of the disk B, and consequently of the disk A. Meanwhile the weight at the opposite end of the line is rotating the disks there. The moment the plates D and 0 come under their fingers the circuit is completed through the magnet I, which removes the catch H from the cscapement-wheel G, and all four disks, A B A B, begin their new revolution simultaneousl y. In brief terms, then, the principle of arrangement is this: Two rotating disks, both actuated by gravity, are at electricallyconnected stations. If one disk runs ahead of the other it waits for the other to catch up, and

So also of the disks then both start even again. In the illustrative diagram, Fig. 1, I have shown this to occur once only during each revolution of the disks A A, for the sake of simplicity; but it is not at all necessary that the wheels should make an entire revolution before this automatic regulation of one by the other occurs, nor is it desirable, because the synchronizing should occur in practice much oftencr. Therefore, in practice I make it take place several times during each revolution. Inasmuch as the speed with which the disks are revolved has nothing at all to do with the working of this synchronizing apparatus, it will be at once apparent that even if my disks rotate at the comparatively slow speed of once per second I can correct the position of one by the other if need be thirty or forty times in thatinterval, and hence it becomes simplya question of the most desirable number of times that the synchronizing shall take place in agiven period of time to render not only the whole period of revolution of the two disks exactly alike, but to cause the said disks to move throughout that period at precisely the same rate. 01' course it is not necessary to fix upon any definite number of synchronizing adjustments here, because this will depend necessarily greatly upon the particular construct-ion, accuracy, and uses of the instruments employed; but the point that I desire especially to emphasize is that I cause the two wheel-disks at opposite ends of the line to adjust themselves each by the other at certain incremen ts of their period of revolution, and that obviously by increasing the number of these increments I can cause more adjustments per revolution, and hence render the movement of the disks nearer and nearer to absolute unison.

Fig. 2 represents the apparatus arranged at one end of the line, as before, by diagram, but with more detail, and also shows the arrange ment of the signaling as well as the synchronizing circuit. Here, as in Fig. 1, are shown the disk A and the disk 13, the latter, however, being geared from the shaft of disk A, so as to revolve in the same period of time as does disk A. On the periphery of the disk A are equidistantly spaced four pairs of contactplates, 00, C 0, Gc, 0 0. The plates of each pair are disposed at opposite edges of the periphery, as shown in Fig. 3. On the periphcry of disk D are four contact-plates, D D D D. In Fig. 2 the outer circle of the disk A represents the lower edge of the periphery and the inner circle the upper edge when the disk is placed, for example, in a horizontal position.

Rigidly secured in proximity to the disk A are two spring contactfingers, E and e. The finger E is set slightly in advance of the finger 6, so that when the disk A is revolved in the direction of the arrow 1 the finger E will meet the contact-plate O, for instance, before the finger e meets the contact-plate O, and so for each of the four pairs of contact-plates.

Near the periphery of disk 13 is secured a spring-finger, F, which as this disk rotates makes contact with each contact-plate D in succession. On the shaft of disk B is fastened the escapernent-wheel G, here having four shoulders or indentations.

I is an electro-magnet; H, its armature, provided with a hook or latch to engage with the escapement-wheel G by the action of the coiled spring J when released by the magnet.

On the shaft K of disk A is arranged a commutator having four contact-plates, L LL L In proximity to opposite sides of said shaft are secured brushes or spring contact-plates M and N. One of these plates connects with the positive and the other with the negative pole of the split battery by suitable wires.

Each commutator-plate is connected by wires 0 to two of the contact-plates on the rim of the disk A. Thus the plate L connects with the plate 0 and the plate 0, the plate L with the plate O and the plate a the plate Ii with the plate O and the plate 0, and the plate L with the plate O and the plate 0 On the disk B are wires 1?,whereby the contact-plates D D D D are electrically connected together and to the electro-magnet I. Said magnet is also connected by awire, Q, to the finger E. The finger F is connected by a wire, R, to line, and the line connects with the key S, and thence by the wire T to a relay,U, and so to the finger e. The battery is also, as shown, split and connected to earth.

; Supposing the parts to be in the positions represented, it will be evident that the negative current from the battery is led to the commutator-plate L, and thence to the plates 0 and 0; but as no circuit is established with these plates the current cannot fiow. The positive current, however, passes to the cornmutator-plate L with which the brush M is in contact-,and thence goes to the plates O and 0. With the plate 0 the finger E is in contact, and hence the current can proceed to the wire Q, magnet I, and wire P upon the disk B. From the disk B the current can pass by way of the contact-plate D,which has met the finger F upon said finger,and so to line. Now,as has been explained with reference to Fig. 1, if the corresponding mechanism at the other end of the line is in precisely the same position, then the current will be established. The magnet I will attract its armature H, which is shown in engagement with the escapement-wheel G. The wheel G being released, the weight WV of Fig. 1 will be free to turn the disks A B, and the disk A willbegin its revolution in the direcction of the arrow 1. As it does so the contactplate a will move out of contact with the finger E, and the contactplate G will move into contact with the finger 0. Circuit will thus be 1 broken from the positive'pole of the battery,

but made from the negative-pole,because it can now pass from brush N to commutator-plate L, thence to plate O,and so to the finger 6. From the finger e the current passes by the wire T to the relay U, and thence to the operatingkey S, and so to line, and if the key is worked while this state of affairs continues then nals will be transmitted. Every time a pair of contact-plates comes round to the fingersE and e this same thing happensthat is, through the circuit made by finger E the synchronizing action takes place, as described, and through the circuit subsequently made through finger e signals are sent. Consequently with a disk, A, arranged as shown in Fig. 2, the synchronizing adjustment occurs four times at every revolution, and also four times during every revolution a signaling circuit is established. As has already been stated, when the fingers E and c successively close circuit on the platesc and O, first a plus and then ami nus current goes toline. Supposing, now, the disk to have rotated one-quarter revolution in the direction of the arrow 1, then the plate 0" will meet the finger E; but the current to plate 0 is negative, and as the last closing of the circuit through plate O and finger e sent a negative current to line, here would be two negative currents following each other, which of course is undesirable, as for rapid working the current should reverse at each succeeding contact. I can avoid this difficulty by adding another contact-finger, as e, placed in rear of finger E. Now, the succession of contacts from the position shown in the drawings, Fig. 2, and the direction of the respective currents is as follows: Finger E is on contact-plate c and receives aplus current; then finger e meets plate O and receives a minus current; then finger c is met by plate 0 and receives therefrom a positive current. The last current going to line from this pair of plates O 0 is therefore positive. Suppose the disk turned forward in the direction of arrow 1 one-quarter of a revolution. Finger E meets plate a, but to this plate a negative current is passing; then finger e meets plate O", which receives a positive current, and finger e in turn meets plate O,which is negative, so that, in brief terms, I use an odd number of eontact-fingers, E e e, and as the current alternates in direction it begins, for example, plus to E, minus to 6, plus to c, and then minus to E, plus to 6, minus to e, and so on. One of these contact-fingers, E, controls the synchronizirig-circuit, the others the signaling-cireuit. It will be apparent that the number of fingers e e, &c., is immaterial. I can use as many as I can find place for in the space included between two successive pairs of contactplates on the disk; but there should be an odd number of these fingersthat is, an even number of fingers for the signaling-circuit and one finger for the syncln-onizing-circuit. Thus a succession of additional fingers e e c, &c., for the sigualing-circuit is repre sented in Fig.2 by dotted lines. I have shown all of the signalling-circuit fingers connected to the same wire in Fig. 2. In practice, how ever, each finger c e, &c., might be connected to its own wire, relay, and key, as in Fig. 8, so that as many operators could send as there were fingers, the signals for each key passing to line whenever the finger e belonging to that key made contact. The gearing of disk A to wheel B is such that, for example, when the plate 0 comes to the finger E the plate D on disk B comes to the finger F, and a shoulder on the escapement-wheel arrives in a position to meet the latch-armature II if the latter be not attracted by its magnet I.

The number of contact-plates on the disk A and of signalingfingcrs will depend on the following considerations:

First. \Vhere it is desired to allow a large number of operators to work simultaneously, then there must be, as stated, a corresponding number of signaling-fingers c. As all of these fingers must be placed between two successive pairs of contact-plates on disk A, it follows that in order to afford space for the fingers the pairs of contact-plates must be sufficiently separated. Thus, in Fig. 2, if it is desired, for example, to employ ten operators, it may be necessary to use but four pairs of contactplates, 0 to O, on the disk A, because space equal to the length of a whole quadrant of the circumference is necessary to accommodate the fingers. In such case it might be necessary to drive the wheel at very high speed, so as to insurea sufficient frequency of circuitelosings for each finger 0 c, &c.

Second. If, however,a smaller number ofoperators will sufticesay fourth en on a disk of equal size a space equal to one-eighth of the circumference will be ample for the accommodation of all the fingers; hence, as in Fig.5, eight pairs of contact-plates, G to O may be employed. The speed of the revolutions of the disk may be but halfas great to obtain the same number of circuit-closings for each finger,and as at each passage of each pair of plates under the synchronizing-finger the synchronizing adjustment is effected, it will be apparent that with such a wheel the synehronic regulation occurs at every eighth part of a revolution, instead of but four times per revolution.

Third. Carrying out this idea still further, I find that probably in practice alength of oneeighth inch on the periphery of the disk A will measure that of each contact-plate G c. As suming this to be correct for purposes of illustration, then I may placein a space of one and one-eighth inch eight signaling-fingers and one synchronizingfinger. Therefore, on a disk measuring nine inches in circumference I may have eight pairs of contactplates, or on a disk measuring eighteen inches in circumference I may have sixteen pairs of contact-plates. At every revolution of this lastmentioned disk it would be synchronized sixteen times, and with each one of the eight signaling-fingers sixteen closings of the circuit would be made. It simply remains then to drive this disk with great velocity,which is easily done by gearing, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, which are also a diagram. In Fig. 7 the fingers e are not shown.

Here the cord of the weight XV winds on the barrel 1 and on the shaft of this barrel is a cut gear which rotates arbor 2. Arbor 2 rotates arbor 3, and so on to arbor 7. The gearing between arbors l and 2 is such, for example, that arbor2 rotates four times as fast as arbor 1, and each succeeding arbor in like proportion revolves more rapidly than the one preceding it. Now, suppose that arbor 1 is turned by the descending weight at the very slow rate of one revolution in thirty sec-- onds. Then in the same period arbor 2 would make four turns, arbor 8 sixteen turns, arbor 4t sixty-four turns, arbor 5 two hundred and fiftysix turns, and arbor G a thousand and twenty-four turns; but arbor (3 carries the disk A, so that this wheel would therefore rotate at the rate of thirty-four revolutions per second. At each revolution, as I have said, there are sixteen contacts, so that the total number of closings of circuit for each signaling-fin ger would be six hundred and lifty'four per second, and the synchronizing current would pass as many times in the same interval.

Of courseiu multiplying the pairs ofcontactplates on the disk A, it is also necessary to multiply the commutator-plates L on the shaft of said disk, so as to effect the reversal of the currents, as already described. So, also, it is necessary to multiply the contact-points on disk 13 and the shoulders or notches 011 the escapement-wheel G. This, however, is merely a matter of mechanical detail.

I claim 1. The combination ofa source ofelectricity, a rotary disk, a means of actuating said disk, contact-plates on said disk, a series of fixed fingers containing an uneven number of said fingers adapted to make successive contact with each of said contact-plates during the rotation of said disk, and a means (such as a commutater) for alternately reversing the direction of the current passing to each of said fingers in succession, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a line-conductor, a source of electricity, a rotary disk, a means of actuating said disk, contact-plate on said disk, two fixed fingers adapted to make successive contact with said contact-plate during the revolution of said disk, a signaltransmittcr, a synchronizing mechanism, and circuit-connections, substantially as set forth, one of said fingers being in branch circuit with said signattransmitter, and the other of said fingers being in branch circuit with said synchronizing mechanism, and the said branch circuits being united to line.

3. The combination of a line-conductor, a source of electricity, a rotary disk, a means of actuating said disk, two contact-plates on said disk, two fixed fingers each adapted to make contact with one of said contact-plates, a signal-transmitter, a synchronizing mechanism, and circuit-connections, substantially as set forth, one of said fingers being in branch circuit with said signal-transmitter,and the other H, escapcment-wheel G, disk 13, having 0011- said synchronizing mechanism, and the said tact-plate D, finger F, and circuit-connections, IO branches being united to line. substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a source of elec- 5 tricity, rotary disk A, means of actuating said ALFRED BEALE' disk, contact-plate on said disk, finger e, and circuit-connections,substantially as described, the finger E, magnet I, armature and catch of said fingers being in branch circuit with Witnesses:

PARK BENJAMIN, EDGAR GQODWIN. 

